Homelessness crisis: Moral challenge

THERE have been so many warnings about the housing and homelessness crisis that the sense of urgency needed to confront the problem might waiver. 

This cannot happen; there is simply too much at stake for society, families and individuals. The Dublin Homeless Executive has admitted it is dealing with an “unprecedented demand” for services after Focus Ireland said homelessness had reached crisis point.

There is no need to rehearse the policy decisions that got us to this sorry point, they are well enough known, but it is essential that the Government and any independent organisations that feel they have a contribution to make, focus on finding homes, even temporary ones, for those trying to find one before winter returns in a few months’ time.

We give great weight to property rights but at a moment like this, it does seems immoral that an individual cannot be certain they have a home unless they can match soaring rents only made possible by this manmade crisis. We may be at the point where we have to decide which we care for more — property rights or decency.

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